Effects of Light and Temperature on Fatty Acid Production in Nannochloropsis S alina

Jon Van Wagenen, Tyler W. Miller, Sam Hobbs, Paul Hook, Braden Crowe and Michael Huesemann
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Jon Van Wagenen: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 1529 W Sequim Bay Rd., Sequim, WA 98382, USA
Tyler W. Miller: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 1529 W Sequim Bay Rd., Sequim, WA 98382, USA
Sam Hobbs: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 1529 W Sequim Bay Rd., Sequim, WA 98382, USA
Paul Hook: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 1529 W Sequim Bay Rd., Sequim, WA 98382, USA
Braden Crowe: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 1529 W Sequim Bay Rd., Sequim, WA 98382, USA
Michael Huesemann: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 1529 W Sequim Bay Rd., Sequim, WA 98382, USA

Energies, 2012, vol. 5, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: Accurate prediction of algal biofuel yield will require empirical determination of physiological responses to the environment, particularly light and temperature. One strain of interest, Nannochloropsis salina , was subjected to ranges of light intensity (5–850 ?mol m ?2 s ?1 ) and temperature (13–40 °C) and its exponential growth rate, total fatty acids (TFA) and fatty acid composition were measured. The maximum acclimated growth rate was 1.3 day ?1 at 23 °C and 250 ?mol m ?2 s ?1 . Fatty acids were detected by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) after transesterification to corresponding fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). A sharp increase in TFA containing elevated palmitic acid (C16:0) and palmitoleic acid (C16:1) during exponential growth at high light was observed, indicating likely triacylglycerol accumulation due to photo-oxidative stress. Lower light resulted in increases in the relative abundance of unsaturated fatty acids; in thin cultures, increases were observed in palmitoleic and eicosapentaenoic acids (C20:5?3). As cultures aged and the effective light intensity per cell converged to very low levels, fatty acid profiles became more similar and there was a notable increase of oleic acid (C18:1?9). The amount of unsaturated fatty acids was inversely proportional to temperature, demonstrating physiological adaptations to increase membrane fluidity. These data will improve prediction of fatty acid characteristics and yields relevant to biofuel production.

Keywords: algae; biofuels; climate; fatty acid; Nannochloropsis salina (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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